Among 223 youth seeking help to quit nicotine vaping, 92% had used cannabis and 69% used it in the past month, with heavier cannabis use linked to more frequent nicotine vaping.
Parents of teens who vape; youth cessation program designers; school counselors
92% of teens seeking to quit vaping also use cannabis
What the researchers found
92.4% reported lifetime cannabis use, 68.6% past-month use. Cannabis smoking and vaping were both highly prevalent (lifetime ~91%, current ~63% each). Heavier cannabis use and preferring smoked cannabis were associated with more frequent nicotine vaping. Average readiness to quit cannabis was 6.3/10.
Why it matters
Youth seeking help to quit vaping are overwhelmingly co-using cannabis. Vaping cessation programs that ignore cannabis use may be less effective.
The numbers in context
223 youth, mean age 17.3. Lifetime cannabis: 92.4%. Past-month: 68.6%. Current smoking cannabis: 63.6%. Current vaping cannabis: 63.1%. Prefer smoking: 58.7%. Readiness to quit cannabis: 6.3/10.
How the study worked
Survey of 223 Connecticut youth (mean age 17.3) who completed intake for a vaping cessation study, assessing cannabis products used, reasons, frequency, and readiness to quit.
What this study cannot tell us
Convenience sample of youth already seeking cessation help, not representative of all teen vapers. Connecticut only. Self-reported data.
How to read the evidence
Descriptive study of a cessation-seeking sample; preliminary because it represents a specific subpopulation.
When this study was published
2025 publication using recent cessation study intake data
The bigger picture
This study reinforces the complementary relationship between vaping and cannabis use in teens. Cessation programs may need to address both substances simultaneously.
Questions still open
- Should vaping cessation programs routinely screen for and address cannabis use? Does quitting nicotine vaping increase or decrease cannabis use? Would integrated treatment for both substances improve outcomes?
Common questions
Why do so many teens who vape also use cannabis?
Do these teens want to quit cannabis too?
Read the original research
Use of cannabis among youth who vape nicotine.
Addictive behaviors, 160, 108173
Citation
Davis, Danielle R; Bold, Krysten W; Wu, Ran; Morean, Meghan E; Kong, Grace; Krishnan-Sarin, Suchitra. (2025). Use of cannabis among youth who vape nicotine.. Addictive behaviors, 160, 108173. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2024.108173
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